Consumers Union supports expansion of CMS’ ’never events’

Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, is supporting the expansion of federal government efforts to restrict Medicare payments to hospitals for the cost of healthcare associated with certain infections and medical errors acquired during treatment. In comments submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Consumers Union said that a proposal by the agency to limit such payments would provide hospitals with a strong new financial incentive to improve patient care. Consumers Union also urged CMS to strengthen the proposed regulations by expanding the types of preventable hospital acquired conditions that would result in lower Medicare payments and to clarify protections to ensure patients are treated fairly and get the care they need.